Mastectomy compression bandage

ABSTRACT

A medical bandage for a radical mastectomy which includes a relatively wide body strip adapted to encircle the body. Approximately one half of the length of the strip is formed of elastic material while the other half is formed of a nonelastic material and the free ends of the strip are joined together at the front of the body. The elastic section covers the area of the mastectomy, while the nonelastic area is provided with a brassiere cup and covers the remaining breast. An elastic shoulder strap is attached to spaced portions of the elastic section and extends over one shoulder, while a nonelastic shoulder strap is connected to spaced portions of the nonelastic section and extends over the opposite shoulder. The bandage acts to hold a dressing in place over the area of the mastectomy with a firm constant pressure and eliminates adhesive tape burns.

United States Patent [72] Inventor John T. Goswltz 3,054.400 9/1962 Lizio 128/ 163 601 N. Eighth St. Manitowac, Wis. 54220 Primary Examiner Ade|e Eager [21] Appl No 776.016 I Filed Nov. 1 1968 Attorney Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall [451 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 541 MASTECTOMY COMPRESSION BANDAGE Q 'F A medical i 3 mastmfmy 8 Claims 3 Drawing Figs WhlCh includes a relatively wide body strip adapted to enc rcle the body. Approximately one half of the length of the strip 18 U-S. Cl .1 formed of elastic material while the other is formed of 3 12 /169, 128/425. 128/482. 128/ l 3 nonelastic material and the free ends of the strip are joined [51] Int. Cl A61 gether at the front of the bocly The elastic section covers of Search i. the area of the mastectomy the nonelastic area is pro- 78, vided with a brassiere cup and covers the remaining breast. An 169 elastic shoulder strap is attached to spaced portions of the I References Cited elastic section and extends over one shoulder, while a nonelastic shoulder strap is connected to spaced portions of UNITED STATES PATENTS the nonelastic section and extends over the opposite shoulder. 2,662,522 12/ 195 3 Muller 128/482 The bandage acts to hold a dressing in place over'the area of 2,723,664 11/1955 Davis..... 128/78 the mastectomy with a firm constant pressure and eliminates 3,014,484 12/1961 Osborn 128/479 adhesive tape burns.

1 v MASTECTOMY COMPRESSION BANDAGE This invention relates to a medical bandage, and more particularly to a bandage r garment to position a dressing over the area of a mastectomy. n

In the past, dressings hl'avebeen applied to' the area of a mastectomy by use of adhesive tape, Not only is the use of tape discomforting to the patient but in many cases it produces tape burns and also complicates the change of dressings. I i

The present invention is directed to a compression bandage for a mastectomy which can be readily applied overthe dressing without the use of adhesive tape. The bandage comprises a relatively wide strip adapted to encircle the body Approximately one half the length of the strip is formed of an elastic material while the remaining half is formed of a nonelastic'material. The elastic section of the strip covers the area of the mastectomy while the nonelastic area is provided with a brassiere cup and covers the remaining breast.

The free ends of the strip are joined together at the front of the body and an elastic shoulder strap is attached to spaced positions of the elastic section of the body strip and extends over one shoulder while a second, nonelastic shoulder strap is connected to spaced portionsiof the nonelastic section and extends over the opposite shoulder. j

The bandage of the invention isjof one-piece construction which can readily be applied and removed from the patient. The bandage holds the dressing in place by applying a firm constant compression to the area of the mastectomy.

As the bandage can'be applied without the use of adhesive tape, it eliminates tape burns and also prevents the discomfort which normally accompanies the use of adhesive tape on the bodyareasf Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description. I

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

in the drawings: i I 7 FIG. 1 is a plan view of the bandage of the invention before it is appliedtothe patient; t n 4 I 7 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bandage as it would'be applied to the p'atient; and I FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the fabric hook and .pile means ofattachment. 7 i I V 1 n j The bandage or garment of the invention comprises a relatively wide body strip 1 which includes an elastic section 2 and a nonelastic section 3. The elastic section 2 is formed of an elastic fabric and preferably is capable of stretching both longitudinally and transversely of the strip. The nonelastic section can be fonned of any. conventional fabric such as muslin or the like. The elastic section 2 and nonelastic section 3 are joined together by a seam 4 which is normally located along the back of the patient when the bandage is applied.

In use, the body strip 1 is adapted to encircle the body with the elastic section 2 covering the dressing applied to the area of the mastectomy, while the nonelastic section 3 covers the remaining breast. The free ends of the sections 2 and 3 are connected together at the front of the body by anyconvenient means. It has been found that a Velcro hook and pile type of connection is very suitable for it not only provides a firm connection but also provides a convenient adjustment for size.

A shown in the drawings, a series of fabric strips 5 containing a multiplicity of upstanding hooks 6 are applied to the end of the nonelastic section 3 while a series of fabric strips 7 having a fibrous nap or pile 8 are attached to the end of the elastic section 2. The multiplicity of small plastic hooks 6 which extend upwardly from the base material of strip 5 are adapted to interlock with the fibrous matted pile 8 on the strips 7. The engagement of the hooks 6 with the pile 8 provides a firm connection and due to the length of the strips 5 and 7 an adjustment is provided for the circumference of the body-encircling strip 1. The hook and pile structure is shown in detail in FIG. 3, and in itself, forms no part of the invention but is a convenient structure for joining the ends of the strip together.

' 9 andis adapted to engage a fabric pile strip 12, similar to strips 6, which is connected to the section 3. The attachment of the strips 11 and 12 enables the brassiere cup 9 to be draw tightly over the'breast.

- 'To provide additional support for the bandage, a shoulder strap 13, formed of two-way stretch material, has one end connected to the upper edge of the elastic section 2, while the opposite end of the strap 13 is provided with astrip of hooked fabric 14, similar to strips -5, which is adapted to engage a strip of pile fabric 15 attached to the central portion of the elastic section 2. The strap 13 is adapted to fit over the shoulder and acts as a compression for the'supraclavicular area.

v in addition to the shoulder strap 13, a pair of web straps l6 and 17 are attached in spaced relation to the upper side edge of the nonelastic side section 3. The end of the longer strap 16 is provided with a strip of hooked fabric 18, similar to strips 5, while'the free end of the shorter strap 17 is provided with a strip of pile fabric l9,similar to strips 5. The straps l6 and 17 are joined together by engagement of the hooked fabric strip 18 with pile fabric strip.l9 and fit over the ofthepatient- The bandage of the invention is adapted to be applied in the operating room to the mastectomy area directly over the dressing. The bandage: is a one-piece unit which acts to hold the dressing in place with a firm constant compression, and can be readily adjusted in size The useof the bandage of theinvention greatly facilitates the changingv ofdressings, for the bandage can be readily removed by simply disengaging the hook-pile attaching strips. As no adhesive tape is required, the speed of changing dressings is greatly increased, and the possibility of tapeburns and other discomfort to the patient caused by adhesive tape is opposite shoulder eliminated.

As a further advantage, the bandage isinterchangeable, meaning that it can be applied to cover a mastectomy on either the right or left side of the patient by merely reversing the bandage.

l. A bandage for use with a mastectomy, comprising a body strip disposed to encircle the body, a first section of the length of said body strip being an elastic material and disposed to 2. A bandage for use with a mastectomy, comprising a body A strip having a loop configuration and disposed to encircle the body, a first section of the length of said body strip being an elastic material and disposed to cover the area of the mastec tomy and a second section of the length of the body strip being a nonelastic material and disposed to cover the remaining breast, each of said sections extending over a substantial portion of the length of said strip, said strip containing a single breast cup located in said second section, and shoulder support means attached to spaced portions of the length of the body strip and disposed to fit over the shoulder.

3. The bandage of claim 2 wherein said body strip is provided with a pair of opposed free ends and said bandage includes connecting means for connecting the free ends together in the form of a loop to encircle the body.

4. The bandage of claim 3, wherein said connecting means is adjustable so that the circumference of said loop can be readily varied.

connecting means includes a second member attached to the opposite free end and including haphazardly arranged fibrous elements to be engaged by said hook elements.

8. The bandage of claim 1, and including shoulder strap means attached to spaced portions of the length of the body strip and disposed to fit over the shoulder. 

1. A bandage for use with a mastectomy, comprising a body strip disposed to encircle the body, A first section of the length of said body strip being an elastic material and disposed to cover the area of the mastectomy and a second section of the length of said body strip being a nonelastic material, connecting means for connecting the ends of the body strip together in the form of a loop to encircle the body, and a brassiere cup formed in said nonelastic section and disposed to cover the remaining breast, a substantial portion of the periphery of said cup is free of attachment to said nonelastic section to enable the cup to accommodate breasts of various size.
 2. A bandage for use with a mastectomy, comprising a body strip having a loop configuration and disposed to encircle the body, a first section of the length of said body strip being an elastic material and disposed to cover the area of the mastectomy and a second section of the length of the body strip being a nonelastic material and disposed to cover the remaining breast, each of said sections extending over a substantial portion of the length of said strip, said strip containing a single breast cup located in said second section, and shoulder support means attached to spaced portions of the length of the body strip and disposed to fit over the shoulder.
 3. The bandage of claim 2 wherein said body strip is provided with a pair of opposed free ends and said bandage includes connecting means for connecting the free ends together in the form of a loop to encircle the body.
 4. The bandage of claim 3, wherein said connecting means is adjustable so that the circumference of said loop can be readily varied.
 5. The bandage of claim 2 wherein said elastic section extends approximately one-half the length of said body strip.
 6. The bandage of claim 2 wherein said shoulder support means includes an elastic strap attached to spaced portions of said elastic section.
 7. The bandage of claim 3 wherein said connecting means includes a first member connected to one of said free ends and having a multiplicity of upstanding hook elements, and said connecting means includes a second member attached to the opposite free end and including haphazardly arranged fibrous elements to be engaged by said hook elements.
 8. The bandage of claim 1, and including shoulder strap means attached to spaced portions of the length of the body strip and disposed to fit over the shoulder. 